Wrench.



No. 771,195. I PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

' WILSON.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION ,PILBD DEC. 5, 1903.

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No. 771,195. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. A. WILSON.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fiZZ ert Vl z lsam Qvilnemca will be more fully g UNITED STATES PatentedSeptember 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,195, datedSeptember'2'7, 1904. Application filed December 5, 1903. Serial No.183,960. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and especially that class known assliding-jaw ratchet-wrenches; and the purpose of the present improvementis to provide means whereby the sliding jaw ofthe wrench may be quicklyadjusted with one hand within inclosures or at points where it isimpracticable to use two hands to arrive at the result sought and alsoto include elements in the wrench structure of such positively-operatingnature and strength that the sliding jaw will be held against accidentalmovement after adjustment thereof has been made.

\ The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying thefeatures of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the slidingjaw in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wrench.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the sliding jaw. Figs. 5, 6, 7,and 8 are detail perspective views of parts carried by the sliding jaw.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a shank havinga handle 2 secured to one end anda stationary jaw 3 at the opposite end, one edge of the shank beingformed with a series of ratchetteeth 4:, extending almost completelyfrom the jaw 3 to the handle 2 and inclined in the direction of the jaw.

Adjustably mounted on the shank 1 is a sliding jaw 5, having an engagingface 6 to cooperate with the similar face of the jaw 3 when grasping anut or other device. The jaw 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 4, has slottedguides 7, spaced apart from each other and of such dimensions as topermit the shank l to freely extend therethrough, and between the saidguides in rear of the engaging face 6 the said sliding jaw is formedwith an integral cross-partition 8,with openings 9 at opposite terminalsthereof for the reception of locking-blocks or sliding dogs 10, eachhaving an inner transversely-serrated end 11 and an outer socket 12, asclearly shown by Fig. 8. Each block or dog 10 is freely slidable in itsopening 9, and the serrations thereof form teeth to engage the teeth ofthe shank 1, the serrations or teeth 11 of the blocks or dogs havingsuch direction as to freely slide over the teeth 4 when the jaw 5 ismoved toward the jaw 3. The sockets 12 of the blocks or dogs 10 aredisposed inwardly toward each other and located outwardly a suitabledistance from the outer surface of the partition 8. The ends of arocking lever 13 are movably held in the sockets 12 of the blocks ordogs 10, said lever having its outer edge formed with a central angularapex or projection 141, which is held in continual engagement with theinner side of a longitudinallydisposed spring 15 in the form of aresilient strap having an angular securing-terminal 16, which isfastened to the front portion of the jaw 5,and a rear slotted extremity17, secured on a boss 18, projecting outwardly from the rear extremityof said jaw 5.

To the center of the rocking lever 13 the front bifurcated extremity 19of a finger-piece 20 is pivotally secured, the arms of the bifurcationhaving their front extremities drawn in close relation to embrace thelever, and in rear of said extremities are spread apart a sufficientdistance to embrace the boss 18, to which the finger-piece is fulcrumed.The finger-piece has a rear finger-engaging extremity 21 with aslightly-roughened upper surface, and said finger-engaging pieceprojects far enough rearwardly to be easily reached by one finger of thehand grasping the handle 2.

When it is desired to open the jaw 5 or move said jaw rearwardly towardthe handle 2, the finger-piece 20 has pressure applied thereto in suchdirection as to move the finger-engaging extremity thereof inwardlytoward the shank 1 and throw the bifurcated extremity outwardly. Saidmovement of the extremity 19 will correspondingly bifurcated move thelever 13 against the resistance of the spring 15, and the locking-blocksor dogs will be disengaged from the teeth 4. The sliding jaw can then beadjusted toward the jaw 8, as may be desired, by pushing forwardlythereon, and during this operation the locking-blocks or dogs 10alternately engage portions of the teeth t, so that one block or dog isalways in locked engagement with the said teeth. Rear-ward movement ofthe jaw 5 from the jaw 3 will be obstructed by the one locking-block ordog engaging the teeth 4, and by means of the sensitiverocking operationof the blocks or dogs 10 the jaw 5 can be pushed toward the jaw 3 whenthe wrench is used with one hand without liability of said jaw 5slipping backwardly.

The advantages of the improved construction are manifold, andparticularly from a standpoint of convenience and durability. All theparts can be readily assembled and are economical in the cost ofmanufacture.

Changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is' 1.A wrench, having a shank with a fixed head and ratchet-teeth along oneedge, a sliding jaw on the shank, toothed locking-blocks slidablymounted in the latter jaw and spaced apart from each other, a rockinglever connecting said blocks, a spring engaging said lever, and meansmovably attached to the lever for throwing both blocks out of engagementfrom the teeth of the shank.

2. A wrench, having a shank with ratchetteeth along one edge and a fixedjaw, a sliding jaw engaging the shank, a pair of lockingblocks to engagethe teeth of the shank, said blocks being spaced apart from each other,a rocking device connecting the outer extremities of said blocks, andoperative means movably attached to said lever and to the sliding jawfor throwing both blocks out of engagement from the teeth of the shank.

3. A wrench, having a shank with ratchetteeth along one edge thereof anda fixed jaw, a sliding jaw engaging the shank, lockingblocks movablymounted in the sliding jaw and spaced apart from each other, a rockinglever connecting the outer extremities of the said blocks, and having anintermediate projecting portion at the outer edge thereof, a springengaging said projecting portion of the rocking lever, and an operatingmeans movably attached to the lever and a part of the jaw for throwingthe blocks out of engagement from the teeth of the shank.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERT. WILSON.

VVit-n'esses:

ROBERT LOVE, JOHN A. MANsFIELD.

